Casting apparatus.



J. w. BROWN, JR. CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.B,1910. v

. I Patented May 21, 1912.

J. W. BROWN, Jn.

CASTING APPARATUS. APPLIOATION IILBDVJAN. a, 1910.

I PatentedvMay 21,1912.

1s SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

1. W. BROWN JR. GASTINGAPPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 8, 1910.

Patented May 21, 1912.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Wamssw- 'gg ncg m,

J. W. BROWN, Jn. CASTING APPARATUS.

'6. APPLICATION rump JAN. 8, 1910. Patented may 21 1912. v 1aannTs-snnn'r 4 Patented May 21,1912.

13' sums-BEER: 5.

I I 1 I I J J. W.'BR0WN, 3.

CASTING APPARATUS. urmu'ndx rmm M11. 0. 1910.

NN M J. W. BROWN, JR. CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 8. 1910.

A H W Q u v H i H A A LU Q Q EEBEEEEEEEE Patented May 21, 1912-.

13 SHEBTS-SHBET 6.

g n E (96km f- OUJT CT 10.

J. W. BROWNfJR.

CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 8, 1910.

Patented May 21, 1912.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

- WM? &

J. W. BROWN, J11.

CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 1111.1. 1910.

Patented May 21, 1912.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 8. 1

QTORTU WBWOCUTQTBQ M KWA;

J. W. BROWN, JR.

CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1910,

Patented May 21, 1912.

Patented May 21, 1912.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 10-.

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J. WL BROWN, JR. CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 8, 1910.

Patented May 21, 1912.

13 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

h A rz/fcrb E Paloma f H aswggowgfi I. w. BROWN, in. CASTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 8, 1910.

Patented May 21, 19 12.

- 13 SHEETSSHEET 12.

- I Ire-verifier? Wi5c5565- JoTcn WLBW tUr JQ W 5 S? i swasairm l eTOFFICE i .JonN wxnson BROWN. nzl. OFfHiLADELIfHiA, PENNSYLVANIA,ASQIGNOR To run ENTERPRISE MANUFACTURING comrANY or PENNSYLVANIA, orPENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF-YIENXSYLVANIA.

casrmehrramrirs.

J r., a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in'Castmg Appa ratus,of which the following is a speclfica tion. I

My inventionrelates' to certain :improve ments in automatic castingapparatus, and particularly that type of casting a paratus IIIWVhlCh anendless conveyer is use inconnection'with a molding machine.

c The main object-of my invention to erect acasting apparatus which willbe prim-- t-ically automatic and which will have the capacity of turningout greatnumbers of castings accurately formed. A further object of theconstruct-- the apparatus that the only manual labor required will bethe taking of thel empty flasks from the. conveyyer, placing.

them in the molding machine and taking the filledflasks from the moldingmachine and placing them on the conveyer, and the operation of theladle. [All the rest of the mechanism is entirely automatic except thehandling-of the finished casting for inspection, where the perfectcastings are taken.

the conveyer and placed in 'therum-- ,blers.

In the accompanying draw1ngs:-Figure -1, is a diagrammatic sectionalplan view of the building of my improved casting plant,-

showing a series of casting unit-s arranged side by side; Fig. 2,"is aview in elevation of the molding machine section of the apparatus; Fig.2", is a view in elevation of the cupola section of the. apparatus; Fig.2, is a view in elevation 03f the intermediate sectioncontaining the pigbreaker, sand re plenishing apparatus andsprue mill; Fig; 2, 1s a viewmelevation of the cleaning end of the apparatus. In all these views thebuildings in which the. apparatus is located are shown in section. Fig.3, is aplan view of the molding machine end of the apparatus; Fig. v3",is a plan view of'the cupola section of the apparatus; Fig. 3.

is a plan view illustrating both the rumblers and the sprue mill; Fig.4, is a sectional plan view on the line. 4-4, Fig. 2; Fig. 5, is atransverse sectional view on the line 55, l1ig ."2";'Fig. 6, is a transverse sectional view on the line 6-6, Fig. 2

t SpQciflcaciSnefLetters Patent. anrfi auon filed lante n3.511513643710764 invention is to so" raan ma i, 1912'.

"with theisandqmixer removed; Fig; 7,"is a transverse sectional vlew onthe line 77,

PHILADELPHIA,

Fig. 2 Fig. 8, is a transverse sectional view on the line 88,' Fig. 2;Fig. "this a sec-' tional viewot one of theflasks; "Fig. 10, is aperspective view partly in sectioniand showing a flask-supported'by thering section of a horizontal conveyer; Fig. 11, is a diagram.

perspective view illustrating the location of the endless chain of flaskrings with the sup porting ,conveyer ands-the endless chain of flaskweights.

I will first describe the operation of the apparatus and will refer tothe diagram,

.(ThlS invention in the firstplace is ;inf-,

and is not applicable-towork where a few I --10 tended tofmakea greatnumber of castings therefore,fithe invention is mainly intended forcasting standard articles.

1' is the main building in'which the endless conveyers 2. are locatedfor carrying the" flasks, and at one side of the-building arethemoldingmachines 8. .Atthe opposite side of the-building are the cup olas4 separated from the molding and pouring see tions bya partition 5 inthe present instance; thegendles's conveyerszpassing through thepartition. a

6, e are thejponring i'ladles which our the endless conveyers 2.

. At one end of the building 1s a core room 7 which is within .easyaccess to the molding machines, as it is essential, when'cores are used,that they shall be quickly handled and readily carried from the coreroom to the molding floor".

The molding machines may be-of any type desired, but preferably of thetype illustrated inthe application'for patent filed,

February 20, 1911, Serial No. 609,563.

Beyond the building ,1 is a shed 8 in the present instance, and passingthrough this shed are the endless conveyeis 9 which re.- ceive thecastlng after it is discharged from the flasks. In this shed are thesand replenishing hoppers 10, the pig feed hoppers 11 and the sprue mill12. Extending transversely through the shed is a railroad track 13 andbetween the conveyers 9 are storage bins 14 for the sand and pig iron.

15 is the cleaning room, into which the 8 5 the molten metal in thefiask s carrie by ing sand and to smooth the castings.

conveyers 9 extend and in the cleaning room are the rumblers 16 intowhich the perfect castings are placed to relieve them of adher- Thecastings are loaded on cars on the track 15 at the rear of the room 15;the room may be entirely open at the rear or provided with doors. Thesprues and the defective castings are carried by the conveyer 9 anddischarged onto a transverse conveyer .17, and this con 'veyerdischarges onto a conveyer 18. leading to the sprue mill 12, Where theparts are cleaned to be melted in the cupola again.

It will be seen by the above description that the mold is prepared inthe .molding machine, transferred onto an endless conveyer and carriedto the pouring-station and the metal is poured into the mold, afterwhichit is conveyed to a point where the sand and casting aredischargedfrom the mold; the sand bein separated at this point from the casting, te casting being transferred by another conveyer to the cleaning roomwhilethe sand passes through the magnetic separator and temperer backtothe hopper for replenishing the molding lmaj The same sand is utilizedover and chine.

' over again and, when required, fresh sand can be added to take theplace of any wasted. The above describedv invention 15 upon the patentgranted to Edwin E. Waite,

' No. 818,927, dated September 24th, 1906, and

"the present invention is the outcome of the development of thisinvention to bring it to a practical scale. i l I In Fig. 1 of thedrawings it will be seen that I have shown nine units and, in thepresent instance, there are five cupolas which endless conveyer made upof a series of flask rings 19 connected together. This conveyer travelson rails 20 at each side and passes around large sprocket wheels 21, 22,as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 3". 21 is the driving sprocket wheelhaving a bevel gear 23 which meshes with a bevel gear 24 on the shaft25. This shaft has a star wheel 26, in the present instance actuated bya tappet on the shaft27 geared to the driving shaft 28 through a wormand worm wheel connection, and this shaft in turn is driven from themotor 29. Thus there is an intermittent forward movement of the conveyer2. The flask ringsare fed forward theiifull length, stopped, and thenvfed forward again. By having the conveyer move intermittently, oneoperator has sufficient time to take the empty flasks from the itself isclear of the rin It will be underrings on one side and to place them inposition on the molding machine, while a second. i v

operator takes a prepared flask from the machine and places it upon theconveyer, which carries it to a position under the pouring ladle.

' I will not describe the particular form of molding machine in thisapplication which is shown in the drawings, as thismolding dischargepoint where the sand 1s separated from the casting, I provide avertically arranged conveyer 30 consisting of a series of trucks 31coupled together and provided with wheels 32 which travel on tracks 33on the forward run and on tracks 34 on the return run.

rectly upon the trucks 31 and the flask 125 only utilized first to holthe flask while the sand is being knocked out and to return the 19, asthe ring is The bottom-board 70 of the flask, as shown in Figs. 9 and10, rests dishaft 25, so that it .moves intermittently withthe'horizontal conveyer 2.- The opposite end of the conveyer 30 passesaround a sprocket wheel 36 at the discharge end of Y the apparatus.

In order to place pressure upon the sand" within the flask 125 I utilizeweights 37, these weights rest upon the sand and the full wei ht beingtaken by the sand and flasks. geveral weights are linked together toform an endless chain 38 and this chain passes over a large sprocketwheel 39 at one end and around a curved rail 40 at the opposite end.These weights are provided with wheels which travel on rails 41 on theupper run but are carried solely by the flasks on the lower run so thatthe sand in each flask receives the full pressure of a wei ht. Theweight is perforated opposite t 1e sprue opening in the sand so as toallow for the ready pouring of the metal in the mold. The-weights areguided laterally on their lower run by rails 42, but the rails do not inany manner support the weights.

It will be understood that the weight conveyer is driven from the shaft25 through a shaft 43 geared to the shaft 25 by bevel gears, and thisshaft in turn is geared by bevel wheels to'a vertical shaft 44 which inturn is geared to the shaft 45 on which the sprocket wheel 39 ismounted, so that all three conveyers travel intermittently in unison. I

46 is the floor of the molding machine section of the apparatus and 47is the floor of the pouring section of the apparatus. This floor 47 isabove the floor 46 and the conveyer carrying the flasks passes under thefloors. There is a longitudinal opening in the'floor directly above theflasks, but this opening is covered by removable plates. There 1s acomparatively large opening in the floor directly under the ladle 48which has a pouring opening at the bottom in the present instance whichwill properly'aline -with the sprue opening in each flask as it isintermittently moved into' the pouring position: The ladle 48 has wheelsas shown, mounted on the track 49 supported by the floor 47, so that theladle can be moved out of position when it is desired to repair it orallow for the placing of another ladle, if the first ladle becomesclogged, thus avoiding the stopping of the particular unit until thedefect is remedied. The valve of the ladle is connected to a. guide rod50 actuated by a hand lever 51, and the ladle is normally closed by alid 52 which can be removed by actuating the foot lever 53 on the raisedplatform 54.

"55 is an endless overhead rail which passes over all the units, andadapted to travel on the rail are carrying ladles 56 which charge thepouring ladles 6 with the molten metal.

4 is a cupola furnace of the ordinary type having a discharge spout 58'which discharges the molten metal directly into a carrying ladle 56, asillustrated in Fig. 2*. The gas from this cupola, instead-of going towaste as heretofore, is carried through a conduit 59 to a suitable gasapparatus to be utilized for generating power and light. Referring toFigs. 2 2, 3", 60 is the pigbreaker and consists of a hopper 11 andcupola,

' describe the mechanism for discharging the directly under the hopperis a breaker wheel 61 which breaks the pig and discharges the brokenparticles into the chute 62. This chute'is open at the top so that cokemay i be introduced therethrough, both coke and metal are fed 'to'theinclined elevator 63 which extends to a point abovethe cupola furnace 4.and discharges the material through a chute 64 into the upper end ofthe as shown clearly in Fig. 2". 1 In the upper portion .of the cupolais a bell valve 65 operated by an air hoist 66. Mounted on thefoundation of the'building containing the apparatus are transverse.rails 67 supporting the car 68 which canbe moved over any one of thecupolas for the purpose of cleaning or repairs, and the chutes 64 arehinged-to the elevatorframework'so that they can be swungto one side toallow the car to pass when desired The chutes are held in the closedposition by bolts 69 actuated by lever mechanism, as shown in Fig, 2 1

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3 will sand and casting from the flask. Thelower carrying conveyer 30 and the horizontal ring conveyer 2 extendbeyond the terminal block acts while the flask is at rest and of theweight conveyer 38, and the hori zontal conveyer extends farther thanthe vertical carrying conveyer30, so that, at the point as, Fig. 3 thebottom support for the flask is removed and the flask drops until lugs120 thereon are arrested by coming in contact with-the ring section fthe horizontal conveyer 2 which then'supports the flask. The bottomboard 70,- which is hinged to the flask .and which is now def drops.down so as to leave the space under -the flask. perfectly clear. Aknock-out block 71 is located directlyabove the flask at this pointandis actuated to strike the sand and force it out of'the flask; the sandwith the casting drop. onto the grating 72 directly under the flask andthe loose sand passes through the grating and the casting slides overthe grating, which is inclined, onto the conveyer 9 which carries't-hecasting to the cleaning room 15. The knock-out mechanism is so timedthat the knock-out clear of the flask when the conveyer 1s movedforward. The knock-out block, in

the present instance,- is carried by a .levei'r' j I 73 actuated by acam on a shaft 74 geared;

each side of each conveyer, as shown Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Thetumblers may be of the ordinary type and are prefer 105. ably drivenfrom electric motors 76. In the present instance I have shown threetumblers on each-side of each conveyer '9. r An-ins spector-stands oneither side of the conveyer and in'spects the castings as they travelwith In) the belt, removes the perfectcastings and places them mom ofthe tumblers. .iThe .ima v Perfect casting he places-beckon theb'elt."

The belt discharges the imperfect castings and the sprues, which are nottaken up. by

the inspector, into a chute 77 which is direct-ly above the carrying runof theitransverse conveyer 17 and this conveyer carriess theimperfectcastings and sprues and discharges them onto the belt 18 which leads vto the sprue null 12, where they are broken" up sothat they can bere-melted in"the'cu'-.- pola furnace. In the cleaning room 15 Ipreferably arrange the grinding machine 7 8, where the fins and theportions of the-'sprues' remaining on the castings are removed. Thesprue mill consists of a hollow cyl inder 79 open at each end-andconnected by a chute 80 with the discharge end of the conveyer 18. Themill is mounted on rollers prived of the support of the-conveyer 30, v

81 and is driven by an electric motor 82. An exhaust-pipe 83 isconnected with the center of the sprue mill and this exhaust and passesthrough the screen into the hop per 87 and flows into a screw conveyer88 and this conveyer. delivers it into a. magnetic separator 90, asitwill be understood that small particles of metal which are broken oftfrom the fins or which break off from otherparts of the castings areoften carried with the sand and t-hese' paiticles I f nu'stberemovedbefore the sand can be used again, and by passing the sandthrough the magnetic separator 90v the sand is completely separated fromthe metallic upper portion of-the'cylinder as it rotatesportions. Thepresent separator is in the form of. a cylinder open at each end and oneportion'of the .cylinder has very fine slots for the, free passage ofthe sand; the slots beingsuch as to prevent the passage of any metallicparts and as the metallic arts pass through one section of the cylinderthey come in contact with magnetized lugs on' the other section of thecylinder and.

these lugs carry the metallic partsto'the and the. current is cutofiwhen. the metal reachesythe' upper po'rtionof the cylinder and themetallic articles tall onto the in? I clined chute 91,:F1g. 2 and intobuckets 92 ofthe elevator 93;'the elevator discharging at its onter'endthrough .the chute 94 intov the casti'ng conveyors 9, where the metallicparticles are carried with the castings and discharged from theconveyors 9onto the transverse belt 17 and from the'belt 17 to .thelongitudinal belt 18, and finally into the spruemill 12. The sanddischarging I through the perforations in the separator 90 f passes intoa ho per 95 directly under the device 98. The sand passes etween crush:I ing rolls 99 so as to break up any lumps-in separator and this hopperdischarges into an inclined endless belt conveyor 96 which carries thematerial up and discharges into the? hopper 97 of a sand temperin ormoistening the sand and flows in a stream past an atomizer supplied withwater through the pipe 100, so as to add suflicient moisture to the sandto temper it 'and so prepare it that it can be nsed'again for molding.The

sand drops onto an inclined trough conveyer 101 and discharges into thehopper 102 of a sand mixer 103.

10 is the hopper through which fresh sand is introduced. Under thishopper there is a feed regulating cylinder 104 which is driven by anelectric motor 105. A thin film of sand passes around this roll and isdelivered onto the belt conveyor 106 which carries the sand and deliversit into the hopper 95, which in turn discharges it onto the belt 96.

The sand mixer 103 in the present instance is of the ordinarycentrifugal type and discharges onto an inclined belt 107 which carriesthesand into the bin 108. In the bottom of this bin there is a rollerfeed for the discharge of sand onto an endless belt 109 driven by amotor 110. This belt 109 feeds the sand to the boot of the bucketelevator 111, Fig. 2 and Fig. 4. The elevator carries the sand in theproper condition up abovethe molding machine and discharges it through achute 11.2 into the breaker box 113 of the molding machine 3,'where itis'sifted into the flasks which have been previously prepared to receiveit. .After the flask has been filled with the proper amount of sand themechanism turns the flask under the ramming plungers,

turned again to the position where'it is removed and placed on theCOIIVQYGIK' The -molding machine, as shown in the drawings, is moved aquarter of a revolu for the drag section of the flask and two for thecope section of the flask, as it will be understood that the mechanismis so timed the cope is placed upon the drag.

The core room 7 contains the core making benches 114, the core ovens115, and the core {sorting benches 116,. The ovens have doors atea'chend so thatthe core makers can ,place the cores directly in the ovensand the selectors on the opposite'side of the oven can remove the coresand sort them, plac- Qi'ng certain cores in cages and these cages can beshifted to the storage space 118 or moved from one point to another bythe cores to any casting machine desired and travels through the patternroom 119, so that -it is possible to transfer the pat-terns from thisroom to any machine desired.

The operation of the casting apparatus is as follows :The moldingmachine being of the intermittent rotary type the patterns do not leavethe machine, as they are permanently secured to the tables. Of course,the tables can be removed when it is desired to change the patterns. Onepart of the flask is mounted on one table and properly filled. Then theother part of the flask is mounted on the next table and when it comesinto position is properly filled. The drag is then bottom board of theflask, which is hinged to the flask, being moved in the meantime so asto support the flask, being moved in the meantime so as to support theflask "where it is properly rammed and thencrane 117. This crane 117also carries the inverted and placed on the conveyor; the

tion each time and has four tables, two

that the drag is placed in position and then and the sand. ll'eirt thecope is a the drag and the sprue properlymade thereis intermittently,

I ioaneie in. As the conveyer moved forW-ardthe flask passes under theendless chain of flask weights 38. These. flask weights travel at thesame speed as the flasks and are gradually let. down upon the sand .inthe flasks and'rest firmly there.

is formed' in each weight' on. An opening platetoahne with thepouringholeinthe flask. The three. 'conveyers thentravel .in-

-. .termittent-ly' in unison with the. flasks and a .when the .flaskisthe operator the ladle "nto the mold byxactuating the directly under.the .ladle '6 discharges moltenmetal from lever 51. The conveyers thencontinue their rings ,of

fintermittent .movementand the metal cools .and sets. Just before theflasks reach the point where the sand and the castings are discharged,the flasks. by passing around the circular the flask weights are'raisedoff ide 40. .The -flasks continue their movement' still supported bythe' conveyer 30 [until the bottom supporting conveyer 30' terminates,when t ey drop onto the drops from under the sand in the flask fromwhich it. is. suspended. After the ring conveyer has carried. a flaskbeyond the terminal of the conveyer 30 the knock the sand and-castingfrom the flask. An air jet is introduced at this point to completelyclean the flasks ofany-retained sand.'

-out block 71 is actuated, discharging This jet inlthe'presentinstancejs formed in theknock-out-block, but this is fully set forthandclaimed in the application for patent filed May 6th, 1910, underSerial No. 559,775; The tastings-and sand are discharged ontotheinclined screemthesand passing through the screen while the cast-.ings slide onto a conveyer Qwhieh carries ;them to the tumbling orfinishing room 15,

where they, are examined by inspectors and the perfect castings areplaced in tumblers 16 while the imperfect castings and sprues where theyare"- placed in condition are con'veyed'toa transverse conveyer 17discharging into a longitudinal conveyer 18 mill .12, to bere- The sand,

which carries them to the sprue melted in the cupola furnaces.

I after it leaves the screen, is fed to the'magnetic separator whichremoves any particles of metal from the sand; the metal being dischargedonto the belt 9 and the particles are finally delivered to the spruemill. The sand, after being treated in the-magnetic separator, isdischarged onto an inclined conveying belt where it is carried to thesand temperingor moistening apparatus 98, where it is given the propertemper to be reused in the molding machine, it is then carried byanother conveyer to the centrifugal mixer 103 and from upon 7 theconveyer 2.... The bottom- -board, not [having the support of theconveyer 30,

this mixerinto-the bin 108 which communicates with the 'sande'levatorwhich finally discharges into the mold 'f. 3: ung machine; The flasksare support edlgo'llv 1" the horizontal ring .conveyer 2 and carried;

back to the molding machine, th bot z boards hanging free until theyreach a given pointafter the operator removes the-flasks withthe bottomboards. f

Inr this particular application, I have re-i A .1 br efly but w thsufficient clearness. for a person skilled 1m the-art to fullyunderstand the. operat1on ofthe apparatus, but the \moldmg machlne,the-"mechanism:for.plac q .0

ierredtoi the several'pai'ts of the apparatus ing and holding theweight.plates on the mo1ds,. the knock-out mechanism, the sand temperingmechanism, the metal pouring apparatus,

andthe pig iron breaker, form the subjects of separate applicationsfiled plant as a whole. I claim The m a ion'ia a castin ratus, of aseries of horizontal conveyers madeup of ring sections, a supporting gog "veyer mounted under the primary run o "each ring conveyer, an endlesschain of flaskjf;

weights arranged to travel over the primary i .run of each ring conveyerand bear directly upon the sand in the flasks, a molding ma- T! j'}chine in the loop of each ring conveyer,' 'a I pouring ladle for eachunit, a transverse overhead rail, a charging ladle arranged to travel onsaid rail and to fill any one of the pouring ladles,

a separating screen below the endv ofeach horizontal conveyer, means forknocking out the. sand and casting from the-'--- flasks carried by saidconveyers,"means for receiving the castings and conveying them to thetumbling room, means for tempering the sand, and means forconveying thesand to the moldin machine to be used again.

2. The com ination in a casting apparatus, ofa series of horizontaloonveyers made up of ring sections, a supporting conveyer mounted underthe primary run of each ring conveyer, an endless chain of flask weightsarrangedto run ofeach rlng conveyerand bear directly travel over theprimary upon the sand in the flasks, a molding machine in the loop ofeach ring conveyer, a

pouring ladle for each unit, a transverse 1 overhead rail, a chargingladle arranged'to travel on said rail and to fill any one of the pouringladles, a separating screen below the end of. each horizontal conveyer,means for knocking out the sand and casting from each flask carried bysaid conveyers, a conveyer for receiving the castings and delivering histhem to the tumbling room, means for term pering the sand, means forconveying the sand to the molding machine to be used again, tumblersinto which the perfect castings are placed from the conveyer carryingthe castings, a transverse conveyer arranged in position to receive theimperfect castings and sprues from the several belts of the differentunits, a sprue mill, and a conveyer for carrying the said imperfectcastings and sprues to said mill.

3. The combination in a casting apparatus, of a horizontal conveyer forthe flasks, a supporting conveyer mounted under the primary run of thesaid horizontal conveyer, mechanically operated flask weights placed tobear directly upon the sand of the flasks, 'a molding machine adjacentto said horizontal conveyer, a pouring ladle, means for knocking out thesand and castings from the flasks carried by the said horizontalconveyer, means for tempering the sand, and

means for conveying the sand back to the molding machine.

4. The combination in a casting plant, of a series of units placed sideby side, each unit consisting of a molding machine, conveyers for theflasks, means for discharging the sand and castings from the flasks,means for separating the castings from the sand, means for conveying thecastings away from the apparatus, means for carrying the sand.

back to the molding machine, means for treating the sand on its returnso that it' will be in condition to be used again, with a pouring ladlefor each unit and one or more cupolas, a transverse track crossing theseveral units, a charging ladle adapted to travel on the track andcarrying molten metal from one or more of the cupolas to the severalpouring ladles.

5. The combination in a casting plant, of

an endless horizontal conveyer made up of a series of rings connectedtogether, a vertical conveyer mounted under the primary run of thehorizontal conveyer adapted to support the flasks mounted within therings on said run, flask weights adapted to be located on the sand inthe flasks as they travel on the primary run, means for pouring moltenmetal into the flasks, said parts being intermittently driven, means forlifting the flask weights off the flasks after passing the pour ingpoint, pivoted bottom boards carried by the ring conveyer, means forreleasing the bottom boards, means for forcing the sand and casting outof each flask, means for separating the sand from the casting, apparatusfor tempering or moistening the sand after it leaves the flask, meansfor mixing the sand,a conveyer for returning the san to the moldingmachine, and means for separating the metallic particles from the sandon its way from the flasks to the molding machine.

6. The combination in a casting apparatus, of a series of flaskconveyers a molding machine geared to each conveyer, a

transverse conveyer adapted to supply molten metal for use at any one ofthe flask conveyers,'means for removing the sand and castings from theflasks, a conveyer for each unit for receiving the castings andconveying them to the tumbling room, and a transverse conveyer toreceive the imperfect castings and sprues from the several conveyers ofthe different units and deposit them at a common delivery point.

7. The combination in a casting apparatus, of a number of moldingmachines, a

conveyer for each machine, the direction of travel of the conveyerforming a considerable angle with a line passing through the moldingmachines, a core storage located substantially in line with the moldingma chines, and a traveling crane or other conveying device adapted totransport cores from the core storage to any one of the moldingmachines. 7

In testimony whereof, I- have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN -WILSON BROWN, JR. Witnesses:

' WM. E. SHUPE, WM. A. BARR.

